Ficus plant named ‘ESPE1803’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Ficus  plant named ‘ESPE1803’ which is characterized by the combination of large bullate foliage with conspicuous light yellow-green venation, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Ficus auriculata.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Ficus disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘ESPE1803’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘ESPE1803’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed and unpatented Ficus auriculata plant. In the summer of 2015, the inventor discovered the mutation at his commercial greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands, growing amongst a cultivated population of unnamed and unpatented Ficus auriculata plant which exhibit a small, compact plant size. The mutation was noted for its large bullate foliage and was subsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘ESPE1803’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘ESPE1803’, by way of stem cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2015 at a commercial greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ESPE1803’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ESPE1803’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ESPE1803’ as a new and distinct Ficus cultivar:

-   -   1. Ficus ‘ESPE1803’ exhibits large foliage, relative to the         plant height; and     -   2. Ficus ‘ESPE1803’ exhibits bullate foliage with conspicuous         venation; and     -   3. Ficus ‘ESPE1803’ exhibits green foliage with very light         yellow-green venation; and     -   4. Ficus ‘ESPE1803’ exhibits foliage which is held upright.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘ESPE1803’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands. This plant is approximately 26 weeks old, shown planted in a 15 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage of ‘ESPE1803’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage of ‘ESPE1803’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in February of 2019 and describe a sample set of six 26 week-old ‘ESPE1803’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery pots at a greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands. Plants were produced in a greenhouse with full sun exposure, ebb and flood irrigation tables, no supplemental fertilizer, and no preventative or pest control measures utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘ESPE1803’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘ESPE1803’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial variety of Ficus are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant form.—Broad obovate.         -   Average height.—70.5 cm from the soil level to the top of             the foliar plane.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 80.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings and meristematic tissue             culture propagation.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 15 weeks to             produce a rooted cutting at approximately 25 degrees             Celsius.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 15 weeks to             produce a marketable finished plant in a 14 cm pot.         -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             typical Ficus auriculata pests and diseases has been             observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             through 13 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate to high tolerance to rain; low to moderate             tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense, moderately branched rooting;             roots are slightly fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Moderately deep.         -   Diameter of roots.—1.0 mm on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 163B and             163C. -   Stem:     -   -   General branching habit.—Basally branching main stems; no             lateral branching. Pinching isn't required but will improve             branching.         -   Quantity of stems.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 50.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 6.7 cm.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical. Shoot tips are semi-erect.         -   Aspect.—Rounded; very angular.         -   Texture.—Densely covered with short hairs, with an average             length of 1.0 mm. Hairs are colored greyed-brown, nearest to             RHS 199D.         -   Luster.—Matte.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile.—Greyed-brown, nearest to RHS 199A.         -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to a combination of RHS             146A and 146B.         -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to a combination             of RHS 146A and 146B.         -   Color of the oldest wood.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A,             and axially striped greyed-brown, nearest to a combination             of RHS 199A and 199B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—8 leaves, as observed along the main stem.         -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 45 degrees to the stem.         -   Lamina.—Shape — Cordate. Aspect — Slightly carinate and             varying from concave to convex to flat on individual leaves.             Dimensions — 32.4 cm long and 18.0 cm wide. Apex — Abruptly             acute. Base — Cordate. Margin — Entire; coarsely undulate.             Texture of adaxial surface — Slightly bullate and densely             covered with very short hairs, with an average length of             0.75 mm long. Hairs are colored green-white, nearest to RHS             157D. Texture of abaxial surface — Slightly bullate and             densely covered with very short hairs, with an average             length of 1.0 mm long. Hairs are colored green-white,             nearest to RHS 157D. Luster of the adaxial surface — Very             slightly glossy. Luster of the abaxial surface — Very             slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —             Green, nearest to RHS 137A, and veined yellow-green, nearest             to RHS 154C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B, and veined lighter,             nearest to RHS 154C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface —             Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and             147A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in             between yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 147B and 191A.             Venation — Pattern — Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B. Color, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D.         -   Stipule.—Not present.         -   Petiole.—Length — 17.4 cm. Diameter — 0.8 cm. Strength —             Strong. Texture — Densely covered with short thin hairs,             approximately 1.0 mm long. Hairs are colored greyed-orange,             nearest to RHS 164D. Luster — Very slightly glossy. Color,             adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D. Color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS             146D and 151A. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ESPE1803’ differ from the parent, an unnamed and unpatented Ficus auriculata plant, in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘ESPE1803’ The parent. Foliage abundance. Less abundant. More abundant. Foliage size. Larger than the Smaller than parent. ‘ESPE1803’ Foliage luster. Very slightly glossy. Glossy. General coloration of Darker green. Lighter green. the mature foliage.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ESPE1803’ differs from the variety, Ficus bussei ‘ESFIBU1802’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/501,282), for which a United States plant patent application is being filed concurrently with the instant application, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘ESPE1803’ ‘ESFIBU1802’ Foliage shape. Cordate. Ovate. General coloration Darker green. Lighter green. of the foliage. General coloration Very light yellow- Green. of the foliage venation. green. General coloration Yellow-green. Green. of the stems. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ficus plant named ‘ESPE1803’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 